China will launch the third national land survey this year, according to a circular issued by the State Council on Oct 16.

A special group will be organized to lead the survey, with Vice-Premier Zhang Gaoli as the group leader.

The purpose of the national survey is to thoroughly check on the status quo of land use, collect accurate land data, and improve the mechanism of land survey and statistics.

The survey will cover all the land in China. Survey items include cataloging the use of land resources, ownership, and natural and economic conditions. Permanent, basic farmland will be a focus in the survey.

It will begin in the fourth quarter of 2017 and the result should be made public in 2020.

The circular stressed supervision and training of survey investigators. Any group or individual participating in the survey is not allowed to report false data, refuse to report the data or delay the report, the document said.